Display Device and Method of Driving the Same

1. A display device comprising: a light-source module comprising a plurality of light-source blocks configured to provide light to a display panel; a plurality of light-source drivers configured to drive the plurality of light-source blocks; a timing controller configured to generate a dimming level signal of a corresponding one of the light-source blocks based on an image signal for implementing a frame, and to generate a n-bit dimming select signal for selecting a corresponding one of the light-source drivers corresponding to the dimming level signal, the n-bit dimming select signal being different from the image signal; a signal converter configured to convert the n-bit dimming select signal into an m-bit switch control signal, “n” and “m” being natural numbers, “m” corresponding to a number of outputs from the signal converter, and n being less than m; and a plurality of switches connected between the timing controller and the plurality of light-source drivers, and configured to provide a plurality of dimming level signals to the plurality of light-source drivers based on the m-bit switch control signal, wherein the signal converter comprises: a decoder configured to convert the n-bit dimming select signal into an m-bit decoded signal; and an operator configured to receive the m-bit decoded signal, to perform a logical operation on the m-bit decoded signal, and to generate the m-bit switch control signal.

2. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the m-bit decoded signal of the switch control signal is applied to a control terminal of each of the plurality of switches.

3. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the operator comprises a plurality of AND-gates respectively connected to the plurality of switches, and wherein a k-th AND-gate among the plurality of AND-gates comprises a first input terminal for receiving a k-th bit signal of the m-bit decoded signal, a second input terminal for receiving and inverting a (k-1)-th bit signal of the m-bit decoded signal, and an output terminal connected to a control terminal of a k-th switch among the plurality of switches, “k” being a natural number.

4. The display device of claim 3 , wherein a second input terminal of a first AND-gate among the plurality of AND-gates is configured to receive and invert a ground signal.

5. The display device of claim 1 , wherein the timing controller is configured to transmit the plurality of dimming level signals to the plurality of light-source drivers through a serial peripheral interface.

6. The display device of claim 1 , further comprising: a first printed circuit board on which the light-source blocks are mounted; a second printed circuit board on which the timing controller is mounted; and a third printed circuit board on which the plurality of switches, the decoder, and the operator are mounted.

7. The display device of claim 1 , further comprising: a first printed circuit board on which the light-source blocks are mounted; and a second printed circuit board on which the timing controller, the plurality of switches, the decoder, and the operator are mounted.

8. A method of driving a display device comprising a light-source module comprising a plurality of light-source blocks configured to provide light to a display panel, and a plurality of light-source drivers configured to drive the plurality of light-source blocks, the method comprising: generating a dimming level signal of a corresponding one of the light-source blocks based on an image signal for implementing a frame; outputting a n-bit dimming select signal for selecting one of the light-source drivers corresponding to the dimming level signal, and outputting the dimming level signal of a corresponding one of the light-source blocks, the n-bit dimming select signal being different from the image signal; converting, using a signal converter, the n-bit dimming select signal into an m-bit switch control signal, “n” and “m” being natural numbers, “m” corresponding to a number of outputs from the signal converter, and n being less than m; applying the m-bit switch control signal to a plurality of switches connected to the plurality of light-source drivers; and applying a plurality of dimming level signals to corresponding ones of the plurality of light-source drivers based on a driving of the plurality of switches, wherein converting the n-bit dimming select signal comprises: converting the n-bit dimming select signal into an m-bit decoded signal; and generating the m-bit switch control signal by receiving the m-bit decoded signal and performing an AND-operation on the m-bit decoded signal.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising: performing the AND-operation on a k-th bit signal of the m-bit decoded signal, and an inverted signal of which a (k-1)-th bit signal of the m-bit decoded signal is inverted; generating a k-th bit signal of the m-bit switch control signal; and applying the k-th bit signal of the m-bit switch control signal to a control terminal of a k-th switch, “k” being a natural number, and k being greater than 1, and less than or equal to m).

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising: generating a first bit signal of the m-bit switch control signal applied to a control terminal of a first switch by performing an AND-operation on the first bit signal and an inverted signal of a ground signal.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising transmitting the dimming level signal to the corresponding one of the light-source drivers through a serial peripheral interface.

12. A display device comprising: a light-source module comprising a plurality of light-source blocks configured to provide light to a display panel; a plurality of light-source drivers configured to drive the plurality of light-source blocks; a timing controller configured to transmit a dimming level signal of a corresponding one of the light-source blocks, which is generated based on an image signal for implementing a frame, and to transmit a dimming select signal comprising digital data for identifying and selecting a corresponding one of the light-source drivers to which the dimming level signal is applied, as a serial signal, the dimming select signal being different from the image signal; and a serial-to-parallel converter configured to receive the dimming level signal and the dimming select signal from the timing controller, and to convert the dimming level signal and the dimming select signal transmitted in a serial signal into a parallel signal, and to transmit the parallel signal to the plurality of light-source drivers in parallel.

13. The display device of claim 12 , wherein the timing controller is configured to transmit the dimming level signal and the dimming select signal to the serial-to-parallel converter as differential signals.

14. The display device of claim 13 , wherein the serial-to-parallel converter is configured to convert the differential signals into a plurality of single signals, and to transmit the plurality of single signals to the plurality of light-source drivers.

15. The display device of claim 12 , wherein the timing controller is configured to transmit signals to the serial-to-parallel converter through a high-speed differential signaling interface, and the serial-to-parallel converter is configured to transmit signals to the plurality of light-source drivers through a serial peripheral interface.

16. A method of driving a display device comprising a light-source module comprising a plurality of light-source blocks configured to provide light to a display panel, and a plurality of light-source drivers configured to drive the plurality of light-source blocks, the method comprising: generating a dimming level signal of the light-source block, based on an image signal for implementing a frame, and a dimming select signal comprising digital data for identifying and selecting a light-source driver to which the dimming level signal is applied, the dimming select signal being different from the image signal; transmitting the dimming level signal and the dimming select signal as a serial signal; and receiving the dimming level signal and the dimming select signal transmitted in the serial signal, and transmitting the dimming level signal and the dimming select signal to the plurality of light-source drivers in parallel.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising: transmitting the dimming level signal and the dimming select signal as differential signals through a differential signal interface.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising: converting the differential signals into a plurality of single signals; and transmitting the plurality of single signals to the plurality of light-source drivers through a serial peripheral interface.